Another Fallen Giant

The notions of what constitutes a club ‘big’ are always prone for debate amongst football fans. Success – be it recent or historical – is usually key with fan-base and, increasingly, wealth also playing a part. In lieu of notable recent success, another factor is often a club’s top flight permanence – a sign of their longevity in the upper echelons of the footballing hierarchy.

With this in mind, it’s been a sobering season for Villa fans. There were times when Paul Lambert’s ballsy gamble on youth looked as if it would seriously endanger Aston Villa’s ever-present record in the Premier League. After a dismal start to the calendar year, a run of five wins from eight games and Wigan’s fabled late charge failing to materialise ensured survival with a game to spare. Survival, given club captain Stillyan Petrov’s battle against cancer, seemed a fitting theme for a transitional season.

As a superb Robin Van Persie hat-trick at Villa Park clinched Manchester Utd their 20th title, thoughts drifted to another set of Red Devils who, like Villa, were fighting to retain their top flight status.

Independiente, one of the ‘Cinco Grandes’ or Big Five in Argentina, were among just three teams never to have been relegated from the Primera Division. A powerhouse during the 70s when they won four of their seven Libertadores titles – the most by any South American side – the club has fallen on harder times recently and went into this season staring down the barrel of a historic first relegation.

Barring the 2010 Copa Suderamericana win, domestic results have been poor for some time and going into the season left them in a perilous situation in the promedios – the three-year average point score that decides relegation. As a general rule the 50-point mark per-year usually guarantees safety and Independiente were falling just short, amassing 43 in 10/11 and 47 in 11/12.

Americo ‘Tolo’ Gallego, the man who last guided Independiente to the title in 2002, was brought in last August and went about arming an impressive looking squad ahead of the Torneo Inicial. El Rojo ended a long run without a victory and briefly enjoyed an upsurge in results, but this wasn’t to last for long as they failed to win any of their last eight games and they finished with just 17 points.

Boosted by the signing of fan favourite Rolfi Montenegro, Independiente started the Torneo Final well with two wins (including the Avellaneda clasico v Racing), a draw and one loss against champions-elect Newells. However, a seven match winless streak quickly put them back to square one and looking increasingly doomed.

Gallego left, with a win rate of just 37%, to be replaced by Miguel Brindisi. Results improved but, as was apparent at the turn of the year, it was already too little too late. The spectre of La B loomed ominously closer.

At the start of the campaign Independiente’s main relegation rivals had appeared to come in the form of Quilmes and San Martin, with Union already all but down. But despite the conspiracies that abounded, Quilmes’ good form and a late surge from San Martin effectively took el Rojo’s destiny out of their own hands. A glimmer of hope emerged as Argentinos Juniors – who had a 15 point cushion at the start of the Final – were so bad that they dive-bombed towards to the relegation zone, getting within 2 points of Independiente at one stage, before a shock win against River re-established some breathing space.

Going into the penultimate round of fixtures, only a miracle could save Independiente. This miracle, however, was not forthcoming and a loss to San Lorenzo, combined with victories for Argentinos and San Martin, consigned them to their long protracted fate. The fans’ sad yet peaceful resignation at full time reflected an acceptance of their inexorable destiny, the nadir of their 108-year history.

Of course, Independiente’s demise is not without precedent or prior warning. Just two years ago River Plate famously lost their unblemished tenure in the Primera, while fellow giants San Lorenzo were a whisker away from relegation last year, saving themselves in the now defunct relegation play-offs. With this year’s edition of the Superclasico continuing the trend of underwhelming bouts between the two biggest clubs in the country, it leaves a pretty damning indictment of the so-called grandes and indeed the state of Argentinian football itself.

The reasons for Independiente’s fall from grace are numerous. In the broadest of terms they have simply not produced the goods on the pitch. Faith in experienced players turned out to be misguided and by the time some of the bigger names had been ditched it was all too late.

Off the field things have been no better. Hamstrung by years of corruption (£42.6m in debt, stadium half finished, large amounts of money received for Sergio Aguero all but disappeared, etc etc..), President Javier Cantero has been a lone island in the admirable fight against the barra bravas that continue to cripple the club. Unfortunately, this relegation may be mortal blow to his crusade.

Finally, Independiente have paid the price of the short termism endemic in the Argentinian domestic game. The short tournaments foster a mentality that makes any form of stability or continuity very rare, especially at the biggest clubs where the pressure to succeed is at its most volatile, while the relegation promedios were initially designed to save big clubs in case they suffered the odd poor season. Effectively, Independiente have become a victim of a system that was set up to protect them.

Trips to Gimnasia Jujuy, Douglas Haig and Crucero del Norte now await Independiente as they spend a year trying to rebuild their battered egos in the Primera B Nacional. The likes of Huracan and Talleres provide chilling reminders as to how far the mighty can fall but Independiente would be wise to follow in the footsteps of River who are already reaping the benefits of their cathartic second tier spell. Either way, a landmark season awaits.